The Clean Slate Accord Read Online Free

turned and went back to the control room to see if David had any good news at all. There had to be a way to stop the implants from firing, there just had to be. But she’d need Jonas’ help. His brain worked more like a living computer than a human brain and he could usually find things she missed. If there was a problem with him, though, she’d have to fix him first.

Chapter 3
    After ordering Jonas to the lab, Alexa stayed in the control room for another hour. It was a terrible hour. Every few minutes, another spike in brain Megabursts showed up and David’s calculations indicated that almost fifteen million people already had increased MB readings, some almost in the danger range.
    Leaving David to continue monitoring, she went to the lab and found Jonas peering intently through a microscope. He didn’t look up until she cleared her throat and said his name in a firm voice, “Jonas.”
    â€œOh, dear.” He sat up straight, perched on the stool with his feet balanced on the supports between the legs. He had a new pair of black eyeglass frames beside him on the counter. “Was I supposed to just sit and wait? I thought it would be all right for me to work until you came. I’m running a test on…”
    â€œNot now, Jonas. We need to talk.”
    He picked up his frames and slid them on his face. “Are you mad at me?”
    â€œYes, I’m mad at you. I was elected as Global Director by every world leader because they trust me to make sound and effective decisions. If we can’t stop the impending removals, I’ll be solely responsible for killing off most of the population. Don’t you think I’d be a little angry?”
    Jonas clasped his hands together in his lap. “I said I was sorry.”
    â€œA simple ‘sorry’ doesn’t count much in a case like this.”
    Jonas rocked back and forth on the stool. “I can figure it out, Director. I think I was distracted when I ran the initial tests on the implants. It was during that time I had all those headaches. I can fix it. I know I can. Just leave me alone.”
    â€œYou’re speaking back to me? I think I’d better run those tests on your genetics right away.”
    Jonas glared at her. “I’m a few intelligence points above you. Are you scared that I’m smarter than you?”
    â€œJonas!”
    His mouth gaped open. “I don’t know what came over me, Director. I don’t feel well. I told you that.”
    â€œJust stop it. If you say that one more time, I’ll have you mopping up the bathrooms and helping the galley chef prepare meals. Is that what you want?”
    â€œNo. No, it’s not. The galley chef once called me a bookish dweeb, whatever that is. What’s happening to me, Director? I’m afraid.”
    As much as she hated it, she would have to take a sample of his DNA. He’d complain, she knew that, but it had to be done. “I’ve been noticing a change in you lately and this only exemplifies my fears. I need you, Jonas, but not in the state you’re in right now.”
    He seemed to sense what she was going to say and curled up on the stool, bringing his legs to the seat and hugging them with his arms. “Is my genetic structure at risk?”
    â€œI don’t know yet. I need a small sample from your medulla oblongata. You won’t feel it.” She was lying, he’d feel it and he’d probably cry from the pain. There wasn’t much worse than seeing him cry.
    â€œIsn’t that what you said when you withdrew cells from my cerebral cortex?”
    Damn, he hadn’t forgotten the last time. “It’s different this time, Jonas. The cortex was difficult to access. And I can get away with fewer cells from the medulla. It’ll be no more than a pin prick.”
    â€œWe should wait for a while. What if something goes wrong and you paralyze me or damage my brain altogether, then I